Happy Friday EN Readers!
It’s a start to another exciting weekend of shows in U.S. Eventing! I’m sure all our competitors are hoping to come home with a face full of ribbons (like the pony above!). Let’s just right in with the events taking place this long weekend:
- Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials – Altoona, FL [Live Scoring]
- Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials – Paso Robles, CA [Ride Times / Live Scoring]
- Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials – Aiken, SC [Live Scoring]
- $75,000 FEI Nations Cup – Wellington, FL [Live coverage]
In Addition to the Competitions, there are also a couple notable clinics and camps taking place over the next week:
- Southern Pines Adult Camp – Vass, SC [Facebook Details]
- Rescheduled Buck Davidson Clinic – Benton, LA [Holly Hill Farm]
I’d say eventers everywhere are gearing up for their show seasons! News and Notes today are heavily centered around upcoming competition and how to prepare for it. Check out the following:
Blogger Eventer79 of “We are Flying Solo” recounts her latest experience competing Beginner Novice with her young horse. Despite truly hurricane winds (seriously, just watch the video!) and a rough start in dressage, she and her horse, Encore, finished on a clear cross country round. As she says in her entry, “a crazy day, but very educational for horse and rider.” I think that’s the best kind of show experience anyone can hope for! [Team Flying Solo]
Over on COTH, Blogger Lauren Sprieser of Sprieser Sporthorse talks about the best way to “plan your season.” She discusses the challenges a trainer faces in scheduling shows for themselves as well as their students, and details her method for getting a complete picture of her area’s show calendar, including qualifying competitions and otherwise. Lauren includes links to her sites of reference and lays out the reasoning for her shows of choice. Using her model, a rider can plan to have a leg up in plotting out their next season! [COTH]
USEA’s Area I is showing its support to the upcoming calendar of events by sponsoring a scholarship program for all current USEA members. Area I is granting four awards of $250 to deserving applicants for use in lessons, clinics, and other educational purposes. The application deadline for the spring award is March 15, while the deadline for the fall award is August 15. [US Eventing]
The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program will be offering its own sponsorship to 167 approved horse shows during the 2012 season. The Jockey Club has committed $100,000 to be awarded to winners of the Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions in various disciplines. Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trial will be the first of the competitions to take place this year. [COTH]
Horse and Hound provides a useful article discussing what to wear for affiliated eventing competitions. While the information in the article may seem elementary, it’s a valuable reference guide for those just getting into the sport of eventing, or for those whom might be sure they fully understand the competition requirements. H&H goes into excellent detail delineating the dress expectations between the levels, and in each phase of competition. [Horse & Hound]
Note: US Eventing Appears to have had the same idea, posting an “Eventing Refresher Course” on what to wear! [US Eventing]
Not stopping at the dress code, Horse & Hound has also produced an introductory article for those interested in getting started in affiliated eventing through British Eventing. If you’re unsure where to start, whether in BE80T or BE100, this informative piece will breakdown the elements of a BE affiliated event and hopefully provide riders of all levels with a solid understanding of upcoming competition. [Horse & Hound]
The informative news and notes continue with British Eventing itself! BE posted a list of reminders for eventers during the 2012 competition season. These reminders include updated regulations on Equine Doping, medical armband rules, hat tagging specifications, body protector requirements and the inclusion of three new dressage tests. If you’re eventing in the UK, these reminders are not to be missed! [British Eventing]
Back in America, COTH is reporting on the upcoming $75,000 FEI Nations Cup, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. America’s only Nations Cup competition will feature teams from 11 countries , including a US team consisting of Beezie Madden, Margie Engle, Mario Deslauriers and Lauren Hough. This group of talented veteran riders will be defending their 2011 victory against stiff competition from Canada, Australia, and eight other countries. Best of Luck, guys! [COTH]
And since we’ve all got competition on the brain (or at least I do!), I want to leave us with video of the German rider Marco Kutcher winning the final Rolex FEI World Cup Qualifier in Goteborg, aboard Satisfaction RFH! While I love to Go Eventing, sometimes it’s equally great to Go Jumping!
As a quick note from FLAIR, they are sponsoring Red Hills next week. There will be strips in the prize packs and they will have a coupon placed in each competitors packet that is redeemable on site for a free FLAIR Strip application prior to XC. FLAIR is also sponsoring Galway Downs and Jersey Fresh, also with free FLAIR strips in competitor packs, prize packs, and prior to XC rides.
